What is the most unknown Pokémon?

According to recent fan polls and online commentary, the most unknown Pokémon amongst devoted trainers and even casual fans is none other than the unassuming Torkoal. This unique Fire-type turtle Pokémon fails to garner much spotlight despite its intriguing design. Just what has caused Torkoal to slide into such unfamiliar obscurity?

Lack of Fame in the Anime

Unlike more iconic Pokémon like Pikachu, Charizard, and Lucario, Torkoal has rarely appeared in the long-running animated series. To date, it has only made brief cameos in less than a handful of episodes and movies. In fact, its total on-screen time adds up to less than 2 minutes across over 1000 episodes spanning decades according to fan wiki statistics. Without a starring or supporting role, Torkoal unsurprisingly remains an unfamiliar face to anime-focused fans.

Unimpressive Competitive Viability

In addition to anime anonymity, Torkoal‘s middling performance in video game battles contributes to its obscure status. While some overlooked Pokémon like Mawile or Sableye have found tournament success with unique strategies, the same cannot be said for the Coal Pokémon. Across multiple generations of competitive play, Torkoal has never exceeded 2% usage in singles or doubles formats according to stats aggregate sites. With feeble speed and defenses, as well as vulnerability to common attacks like Earthquake and Water moves, Torkoal simply fails to keep up on the battlefield.

Interesting Attributes

However, Torkoal does have some intriguing qualities that make it surprising how unfamiliar it remains. As the only Pokémon with the Fire/Rock type combination, its ties to coal and industrial imagery through smoke-releasing nostrils and chimney-like shell are quite distinctive. Its hidden ability, Drought, which summons intense sunlight upon entry into battle, is also signature and potent. One may expect these traits to earn Torkoal some distinction, but it continues to be overlooked.

Other Obscure Pokémon

While Torkoal claims the top spot by consensus, various other Pokémon suffer similar fates of unfamiliarity. Fellow Hoenn native Relicanth is rarely discussed despite its ancient, unique looks. Later generation monsters like the colorful bird Sigilyph or the mighty but sluggish Druddigon also fly under the radar. And Sinnoh‘s volcano camel, Heatran, seems nearly as forgotten as Torkoal. The table below displays data on some of the most obscure species.

So why does Torkoal top the most forgotten Pokémon list? It simply lacks the icon factor of an early generation monster, the visual appeal and story integration that drives popularity like Lucario, and the strength to make a tournament impact like lesser known niche picks. But that makes appreciating the elusive turtle all the more worthwhile for true fans. Torkoal‘s obscurity may even be the smoke that fans the flames of intrigue as we uncover more about this unsung Pokémon.